Chapter 19

The next day,  Thérèse sat silently in her lavish prison. She'd heard nothing from Henri or the rest of the group. Her severed pinky still sat on the table, slowly rotting. She was starting to get worried. Her heartbeat quickened as she heard steps approaching her door. She rushed across the room, praying that it was Henri coming to save her. It was not. 

Paul burst into the room. This time, he was wearing a red suit that fit him awkwardly. It was most likely something he'd stolen out of King Charles' closet. The wormy man grinned from ear to ear. 

"Well, aren't you just delighted to see me this morning? Does this mean that you've come to your senses in regards to my offer?" 

"You're certainly not the man I was hoping to see. Although, calling you a man is a bit of a stretch."  Thérèse replied. Paul leaned in close to her, and she recoiled slightly. His rancid breath burnt  Thérèse's nostrils. Paul snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. She could see faded scars from smallpox scattered across his pudgy face. 

"Henri is never coming back for you,  Thérèse. He abandoned you last night. He escaped with his little gang into the forest. They broke out of the room we were holding them in and dove out the window, like cowards. They've left you here. They've given up on helping you. You weren't worth it to Henri." He chuckled lightly as he whispered the last sentence in her ear. 

  Thérèse struck Paul hard. Her fist collided with his right ear. He released her waist and held a hand up to the side of his head. He stumbled backwards, slightly stunned from the sudden blow. The guards took a step towards  Thérèse. They were eager and ready to punish her. Paul caught his balance and held up his free hand to stop them. 

"I know it's hard to hear  Thérèse but it's the truth." Paul insisted. "Now I will ask you again; will you accept my proposal?" 

  Thérèse locked eyes with him for a brief moment. His squinty eyes stared into hers. They were hopeful. He was putting on a front, trying to act dominant and in control. In reality he was nothing but a mouse-hearted coward.

  She could try to run. She could try to fight her way through Paul and the two muscled guards. But it would be pointless. She'd never make it out of the room, let alone out of the palace and back to Argence.  Thérèse pushed her shoulders back and stood up straight. She lifted her chin defiantly.  Thérèse strode to the same blood-soaked table she'd been pinned to just yesterday. She clenched her jaw and placed her hands flat on the table, keeping eye contact with Paul the entire time. His sweaty face radiated fury and impatience. 

"Very well. Let's have the other pinky, then." Paul folded his arms behind his back and left the room. The doors slammed shut behind him as the guard once again raised the cleaver over  Thérèse's hand. A dull thud, followed by a loud, wet crunch was punctuated by a blood-curdling scream. Blackbirds fled from the trees in the courtyard.  Thérèse didn't fall this time. She stood with her back hunched, hands still on the table, breathing heavily until the guards left. 

—

Zin rubbed his hands together and held his frigid palms towards the meager fire. Bernard sat sharpening his sword, speaking quietly with Mehala. Caram was gradually roasting a few squirrels over the dying flames while Henri stared silently into the makeshift fire pit. Bernard and Mehala locked eyes. Mehala jerked her head towards Henri. Bernard shook his head and mouthed, "No." Mehala gave him a hard push in Henri's direction, sending him off of the tree stump he was sitting on. Bernard stood up and brushed the snow off his jacket. He took a few steps toward Henri and cleared his throat. No reaction. Bernard sat down next to Henri in front of the fire. Henri gazed, unblinking, at the crackling logs. It seemed like he was looking through the fire, at something beyond the twinkling embers, rather than into it. 

"So what now?" Bernard asked softly. Henri gave no reply. 

"Henri?" Bernard asked again. He leaned down to get a better look at Henri's face. Bernard reached his hand slowly towards Henri's shoulder. Just as Bernard's fingertips brushed Henri's shoulder, Henri sprang to life. He struck Bernard across the face, knocking him off balance and sending him backwards onto the snow-covered ground. Suddenly Henri was on top of Bernard, hands locked around his throat. He had the same expression as when he was looking through the fire. Henri's face hadn't changed at all. 

Caram jumped over Bernard's upper body and tackled Henri while Mehala pulled Bernard away from the pair. Henri was fighting back against Caram. Caram drove his knee upwards into Henri's ribs, and moved swiftly to pin him down.

"Stop it!" Caram screamed at Henri. He grabbed Henri by the shoulders and shook him hard. "Henri, you have to stop! Pull yourself together!" Caram slapped Henri hard with the back of his hand. Henri froze for a second, and his eyes finally came back into focus. Caram slowly released him and helped him off the ground. He mumbled a quick apology and smoothed his toussled hair into place. 

"So, what now?" Bernard asked again. Henri looked up from his boots. He licked his lips and took a deep breath. 

"We have to go back." he said. "I refuse to leave the love of my life and everything my family has worked for with those heathens. We have to go back."

"I agree with you Henri, but how? We barely escaped with our lives last time, and now they'll be even more wary of an attack. It's a huge risk. I know we need to do it, but how?" Mehala looked at Henri with eyes full of concern. She searched his face for an answer. Everyone turned to look at him. 

Henri simply replied, "I know what to do."